BART Warns Passengers Of Potential Strike In Coming Weeks
OAKLAND (KCBS)— BART is warning its passengers that there could be a strike by one or more of its employee unions in the next several weeks, but one union representative thinks that warning is coming a little too soon.
BART Spokesperson Alicia Trost said they are working with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission on a strike-contingency plan and that the agency has posted a warning on their website about the status of labor talks and any potential work stoppages.
"I think it's premature," said Antoinette Bryant with the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents station agents and operators.
She added that her union wants to focus on talks not a strike.
BART Warns Passengers Labor Union Strike Could Happen In Coming Weeks
"We want a contract and we are prepared to bargain to get that," she said.
On Monday, a state mediator entered the week-long talks with BART's five unions. The deadline to reach a contract is July 1st. If contract talks were to breakdown Bryant said BART or its unions could ask Governor Brown to impose a 60-day cooling period.
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